Switch-throwing device



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,172

J. L. MILTON SWITCH THROWING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1927 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,685,172 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. MILTON, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO CHEATHAM ELECTRICSWITCHING DEVICE COMPANY.

SWITCH-THROWING DEVICE.

Application filed April 11, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in switch throwing devices in whichthe switch point of a railway track is thrown from one position toanother and held by spring pressed parts; and the objects of m v improvements are: first, to provide an ettective holding device for theswitch point with a view of minimizing split switches; second, to affordfacilities for adjusting the tension on these parts to the maximum of thpower that can he applied t'or operating the switch points; third. toprovide means for the repeated servicing of parts.

I attain these ohjects h v the mechanism illustrated in the accompanving drawing. in which Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred form of themechanism as it appears after the removal of the lid; Fig. 2. is avertical section of a part of the mechanism along the lin k l of Fig. lFig. is a vertical section oi" a part of the mechanism along the line Rl) of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the spring holding devicealong the line (l t l at Fig. 1: Fig. 5 a modified form of my inventionwherein the device is asseii'ililed as a whole. The ground box orcontainer 1. its projecting lugs 1 1 and 1 in which is assembled theoperating parts, is installed adjacent the track 2 which carries theswitch point 2). From the lug or hinge member I is pivoted lever A fromwhich is pivoted lever ll. this in turn is pivoted to leat' spring thelatter being rigidly secured to the ground hox through pressure exertedagainst it hv screw D which is supported in yoke 1. This pro-'- sureforces the leaf spring against tulcriu'ii l an integral part ofprojection I. It will he seen that the tension of the lea t' spring canbe varied hv means ot' adjusting screw I). To lever A, adjustable draglink E is also pivoted loy pin Aa which completes the articulation.

U link F provides the pivot memher A 7) for effecting the articulationhetween levers AB. This link is also pivoted to plunger (l of the groundmagnet housing II which is secured to the ground liox l hv lugs 1. l.

(lround magnet housing H is constructed of magnetic material andcontains two solenoid windings Ha. Fl?) with a cylindrical opening intowhich a magnetic plung r operates and so arranged and disposed that theapplication of current to solenoid Ho will operate the toggle mechanismcomposed of Serial No. 182,879.

levers A, ll and spring C to the position shown in the drawing by fulllines and When current is applied to the other section. H?) the toggleparts will take up the position shown by the dotted lines. From oneposition to the other the switch point 3 is carried by means of i'orceapplied through connectin l nk E. It is apparent that a relativelvliigli rorce will he applied to the switch H point which is the mainohject of the device.

An outstanding teature of this mechanism resides in the tact that hv theuse of a lon and powertul leaf spring: a. verv licavv and highl elasticpressure is applied to the toe gie joint which is in marked contrast tothat developed hv the conventional spiral springs which are of necessityouite short and heai'v and ot relatively low elasticitv. Anotherdesirahle result gained ll) thisarrangement is the reduced dead centerwhen i'oiiipared with the conventional tvpe of sprin Attention. iscalled to the relativelv shortlen th of lever to lever A whica assistsin the hold ing force exerted by the spring.

In Fig. 5 I have shown plunger J of a straight rigid type with pivot Jr:to which is articulated levers A and B which have their outer endspivoted to lea t' springs (l. C which are n turn secured to the groundma net housing II by means of arms 11!]. IIIZ. which in turn carryfulcrum points H11. H11. Ground magnet housing It also carries arms llc.He. into which adjusting screws I) are mounted for applying pressuresimilar to that employed in Fig. l. I have arranged the connecting linkK so that i! can he articulated to l ver .t as shown n drawing or to eveo'i".

I am aware that prior to mv invention switch throwing devi es have beenconstructed with spring ])l'i lll't toggle joints.

'ldhrretore. I do not claim sui-h a coiiihination liroadlv: hut. Iclaim:

I. Ad 'le joint provided with a pair of ..iig one coziiiiionarticulation and l l' pendent hearings at "heir outer ends. one I saidhe "igs heing 't'ulcruiiied to the free end ot a spring i;ie;iiher whichsulistantiallv rigid at the other end. i

A toggle joint provided with a pair of levers ha 'ing one commonarticulation at their inner ends and indcpcndci'it hearings at theirouter ends. one of said hearings heiii t'ulcrumcd to the tree end ot aspringiiiemhe i which sulistai'itiallv rigid at the other end.

3. A toggle joint provided with a pair of levers having one commonarticulation and independent bearings at their outer ends one of saidlevers being spring pressed by a spring member which is substantiallyrigid at one end and free at the other end.

4. A toggle joint provided with a pair of levers having one commonarticulation at their inner ends and independent bearings at their outerends, one of said levers being spring pressed by a spring member whichis substantially rigid at one end and free the other end.

5. A toggle joint provided with a pair of levers having bearings attheir ends and one common articulation, each of the other ends being'i'ulcrumed to the free ends of spring members which are substantiallyrigid at their other ends.

(5. A toggle joint iirovided with a pair oi' levers having bearings attheir ends and one common articulation at their inner ends. each of theother ends being i'ulcrumed to the free ends of spring members whichsubstantially rigid at their other ends.

7. The combination ot a housing and a tog gle joint provided with a pairof levers ha ving one common articulation and independent bearings attheir outer ends. one of which is attached to the housing, the other oneof said bearings being t'ulcrumed to the free end oi a spring memberwhich is substantially rigid at the other end.

8. The combination of a housing and a toggle joint provided with a pairof lovers having one common articulation at their inner ends andindependent bearings at their outer ends, one of which is attached tothe housing. the other one of said bearings being tulcrumed to the freeend of a spring member which is substantially rigid at the other end.

9. The combination of a housing and a toggle. joint provided with a pairof levers having one common articulation and independent bearings attheir outer ends, one of which is attached to the housing, the other oneof said bearings being iiulcrumed to the tr e end of a spring memberwhich is held substantially rigid at the other end by the ground box.

10. The combination ot a housings; and a toggle joint provided with :1p;. r ot' levers having one common articulation at their inner ends andindependent bearings at their outer ends. one of which is attached tothe housing. the other one o i said bearii being tulcrumed to the freeend of a spring member which is held substantially rigid at the otherend by the ground box.

ll. The -on1binatim1 of a switch point and a toggle joint provided witha pair of levers having one common articulation at their inner ends andindependent bearings, one of said bearings being tulcrumed to the freeend of a, spring member which is substantially rigid at the other end.

12. The combination of a switch point and a toggle joint provided with apair of levers having one common articulation at their inner ends andindependent bearings at their outer ends, one of said bearings being't'ulcrumed to the free end of a spring member which is substantiallyrigid at the other end.

18. The combination of a switch point and a toggle joint provided with apair of levers having a common articulation at their inner ends andcarried by an extension from said switch point and independent bearingsat their outer ends, one of said bearings being tulcrumed to the freeend of a spring member.

14. The combination ot a housing and a toggle joint provided with a pairof lovers having one common articulation and independent bearings attheir outer ends, one of which is attached to the ground box, the otherone of said bearings being fulcrumed to the free end of a spring member.

15. The combination of a housing and a toggle joint provided with a pairof levers having one common articulation at their inner ends andindependent bearings at their outer ends, one of which is attached tothe ground box, the other one of said bearings being tulcrumed to thefree end of a spring member.

16. The combination of a housing and a toggle joint provided with a pairof levers having one common articulation and independent bearings attheir outer ends, one of which is attached to the ground box, the otherone oi said bearings being fulcrumed to the free end of a spring memberwhich is held substantially rigid at the other end by the housing.

17. The combination of a housing and a toggle joint provided with a pairof levers having one common articulation at their inner ends andindependent bearin gs at their outer ends, one of which is attached tothe ground box, the other one of said bearings being fulcrumed to thefree end of a spring member which is held substantially rigid at theother end of the housing.

18. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device and a togglejoint provided with a pair of levers connected to the switch and havingbearings at their ends and one common articulation at their inner ends.and independent bearings, one of which is attached to the ground box,the other one of said bearings being fulcrumed to the tree end of aspring member which is held substantially rigid at the other end by theground box.

19. The combination of airelectrical switch throwing device and a togglejoint provided with a pair of levers connected to the switch and havingbearings at their ends and one common articulation at their inner ends,and independent bearings at their outer ends, one of which is attachedto the ground box,

the other one of said bearings being fulcrumed to the free end of aspring member which is held substantially rigid at the other end by theground box.

20. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device including asolenoid with its armature and a toggle joint provided with a pair oflevers, each connected to the switch and having bearings at their endsand one common articulation carried by said armature.

21. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device including asolenoid with its armature and a toggle oint provided with a pair oflevers each connected to the switch and having bearings at their endsand one common articulation carried by said armature, at their innerends.

22. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device and a togglejoint provided with a pair of levers connected to the switch and havingbearings at their ends and one common articulation, each of the otherends being fulcrumed to the tree ends of spring members which aresubstantially rigid at their other ends.

23. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device and a togglejoint provided with a pair of levers connected to the switch and havingbearings at their ends and one common articulation at their inner ends,each of the other ends being i'ulcrumed to the tree ends of the springmembers which are substantially rigid at their other ends.

24-. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device including asolenoid with its armature and a toggle joint provided with a pair o'tlevers connected to the switch and having bearings at their ends and onecommon articulation carried by said armature, each of the other endsbeing t'ulcrumed to the free ends of spring members which aresubstantially rigid at their other ends.

25. The combination of an electrical switch throwing device. including asolenoid with its armature and a toggle joint provided with a pair oflevers connected to the switch and having bearings at their ends and onecommon articulation carried by said armature at their inner ends, eachof the other ends being fulcrumed to the free ends of spring memberswhich are substantially rigid at their other ends.

it The combination of a housing, switch point and a toggle jointprovided with a pair of levers having a common articulation at theirinner ends and carried by an extension from said switch point andindependent bearings. one of said bearings being fulcrumed to the freeend of a spring member which is held substantially rigid at the otherend by the housing.

27. The combinatoin of a housing, switch point and a toggle jointprovided with a pair of lovers having a common articulation at theirinner ends and carried by an extension from said switch point andindependent bearings at their outer ends, one of said bearings beingfulcrumed to the free end of a spring member which is held substantiallyrigid at the other end by the housing.

28. The combination of a magnet comprising a solenoid, housing andplunger and a toggle joint provided with a pair of levers having acommon articulation and independent bearings at their outer ends whichare tulcrumcd to the free ends of spring members which are held at theother end by said magnet.

29. The combination of a magnet comprising a solenoid, frame andarmature and a toggle joint provided with a pair of levers having acommon articulation with said plunger and independent bearings at theirouter ends which are tulcrumed to the tree ends of spring members whichare held at the other end by said magnet.

30. The combination of a. magnet comprising a solenoid. housing andplunger and a toggle joint provided with a pairot levers having a commonarticulation and independent bearings at their outer ends which aretulcrumed to the free ends of spring members which are heldsubstantially rigid at the other end by said magnet.

31. The combination of a magnet comprising a solenoid. housing andplunger and a toggle joint provided with a pair ot levers having acommon articulation with said plunger and independent bearings at theirouter ends which are tulcrumed to the t'rcc ends of spring members whichare held substantially rigid at the other end bv said magnet. l

32. The combination with an electromagnet having a magnetic housing andan ar-- mature and a spring controlled toggle joint mounted on saidhousing. said toggle joint being connected to said armature and operableby said electromagnet.

33. The combinatioir with an electromag net having a magnetic housing.disposed in the path to the magnetism of said electromagnet and anarmature and a spring controlled toggle joint mounted on said housing.said toggle joint being operable by said elcirtromagnet.

3-4. The con'ibination with an electromagnet having a magnetic housingand an armature and a spring controlled toggle joint mounted on saidhousing. said toggle joint being connected to said armature. 7

35. The combination with an electromagnet having a magnetic housing.disposed in the path to the magnetism of said electromagnet and anarmature and a spring controlled toggle joint mounted on said housing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN L. MILTON.

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